Gauge



Q. w. THQMPsoN GAUGE Filed Nov. s, 1919 asheewshez 1 Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,654,102 PATENT OFFICE.

ORVILLE W. THOMPSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO JAS. P. MARSH & COM- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

GAUGE.

Application led November 3, 1919. Serial No. 335,356.

dy invention belongs to that general class ot devices known as gauges and relates particularly to a gauge mechanism which 1n addition to indicating pressures or vacuum,

will control other mechanism tor controlling,

indicating or signaling purposes. More especially it relates to an improved gauge which will operate in the usual manner but will, in addition, control an electric or imi- 0 lar circuit tor the control ot other mechanism. The invention has among its objects the production ot a device ofthe kind ldescribed, that is simple, convenient, attractive durable, ellicient, accurate and satisfactory i'or use wherever iound applicable. Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled 'in the art, trom the disclosure herein given. l

` To this end my invention consists of the novel construction, arrangement and combination et parts herein shown and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,.wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding` parts,

Fig. 1 is a trent elevation of a gauge embodying my improvement,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3--3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. l is a similar' view showing the parts in changed positions,

Fig. 5 is `a sectional view taken substantiallyon line 5-5 ot Fig. 2,

' Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6 6 ot Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially Von line 7 7 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view sii'nilar to Fig.

the dial covered by a glass platev 6 which may be maintained in place by the retaining member 7. As most clearly shown in Figs.

y5 and 6, the casing may be lined with an inner shell 8, preferably of insulating material and divided by a partition 9, preferably of insulating material. The partition 9 is secured in place by screws 10 or the equivalent extending through the plate and engaging with suitable co-operating parts within the casing.

As will be seen, the shaft 3 extends through the partition 9. Arranged on the partition 9 are contact members 17 and 18, having shanl'cs 15 and 16 extending through the partition and forming binding posts for suitable electrical connectors. There is also provided a contact member 2O which is extended through the plate, also forming a binding post and contact member. The same is shown provided with a screw 1li Vand collar 21 which maintain a switch member 28-29 in place on the member 20. The switch member 28-29, in the construction illustrated, is arranged to cooperate with the contact members 17 and 18 and close `a circuit between one or the other ot the saine and the bindingv posts 20. As shown, the switch member arms are provided with the oii'set portions 30 and 31 which ailord good contact onthe binding or contact members. I have shown conductors 23, 24 and 25 extending to the casing and to the interior where they are connected with the contact members 20, 17 and 18 respectively. In practice these wires may be the usual threewire conductor orcable and may be insulated as at 27 by a bushing, if desired. The construction in this particular is immaterial in so tar as the present invention is concerned and it is immaterial to what apparatus the conductors 23, 24 land 25v are connected or the nature of the apparatus controlled. It may be mentioned, however, that the present devices are particularly desirable for use in connection with automatic retrigerating systems, the same forming a part of the automatic control. The switch member is provided with kan extending p0rtion 82 arranged to cooper-ate with a spring member S3 or the equivalent, having one end secured in a fastening or support 34 by means of a screw 34 or the equivalent. The tree end of the' spring is provided with av bent portion 36 at the tree end, so as to form inallj: .maintained in the posit ion an edge 35 arranged to cooperate with the tivo l'aces Si and 38 on the part 232. lVhcn the switch ineinber is in the position shown in the 'fullflines in 23, the edge will be in contact with the 'Ence filtl and when the switch nien'iber is turned to `the position indi ated by the iiull lines in Figure l, it will eiigage with the 'face 3T. These t\vo faces :ire inclined or at an angle so that when the switch nien'iber inoi'ed 'liron'i one position to the other, utter the edge 35 has reached the point oit juncture oit the two :tacos1 the switch nicinber by reason ol: Vthe springA Vwill be cpiiielly snappel into position.

The switch ineniber is controlled or actuated by un arin 39 ar 'ringed on the shuift 25 and having a roller il() or the equivalent nrranged to engage with one ot the switch arn'is, or in sonic cases with either one` as will be hereinafter eq'iliiiined. The saine may be secured on the shaft in any desired manner7 a screiv ll, being` shown 'for the purpose so thatv the arm, 'it desired7 may be ad justed in the shalt. in the construction ot the device shown in Figs. 3 and Ai, the erin 3S) is arranged to throw the switch ineinber to the position indicated by the dotted linesI in Fig. 3 or full lines in Fie'. el, the arms 2f), however7 being so designed that when the nrin 39 is turned bncl; to the position shown in Fig. 3, or some intermediate position bctween 'the position sho in in the full and dot ted lines, `will not throw the switch incur ber. lVith this particular forni ot the device, it is necessan' to manually return or retrieve the switch ineniber.

Any suitable means may bc provided 'tor returning the switch member to its normal position. For the purpose .l have shown :i plunger rod ill having an operating' button 45, the plunger being` provided with a tip 1 6 preferably oi insulating' material `which will engage arin 2% when the plunger rod i-n is pushed, retin-ning' the switch neinber to its normal position. (bviously, as soon as the sinne is nioved enough `for the edge B5 of the sprinfc` .-3 lo pass the point on the cxtension 3Q, the sprii'igr will con'iplete the retrievine inoren'ient. As in e clearlyv slioivu in Fig. 5, the pilungi-'r rod extends through :i tube 'lli niounted on the casing` und is nor shown b 'v a sln'ingg itl Wiich beurs unz'iinst. :i sl'ioulder in the tube and u. pin on the rod. 'ifube Al-T is shown proi'ided with a cap 4T.

'f'he oijiernti-on et this torni of the device niav be br iett ,v described as follows: Assuming that the arin 39 is set or secured on the shaft 3 so that normally it is substantiall);v in the position shown in Fie'. 3, but Will enwith the switch arin Q8 when the sha-ft 3 is rotated sulicient to bring; the indicator t toa reading, for example. 8() on the dial. Then the indicator ii reaches the reading Si), arni 59 will have engaged .switch erin 2S and inoved the saine to the point where the spring 33? will snap the switch ineinber to the position shown in the dotted lines in Figi'. or full lines in Fig. 4l. This Will bre; lt the circuit between conductors 23 and 2l; and close a circuit between conductors 2li and '25. 'the suite-h ineinbcr will remain in this iihmsition until the button -il-. is dcpressed, retrieviiii;l the switch arni to its normal position. (")il course it the arin 3S) and indicator el have not returned to a position permitting the ronipietc retrieving oi' the switch nicnibcr, tl o closing ol the circuit as indicnted in 3 'will ,not take place until the urrn Si) has inoved suliicicntly to clear and permit .such action. it it is only desired to brealt z` circuit und not simultaneously close another, ob'ifiously the arin 2i) may be oinitted as nuiy contact 18 and cond ictor Q5. Il it is desired to have the devire automatically controlled on the return oi the erin Si, it is only necessary to change re shape ot the arin and inni-1e it, for example, :is illustratrd in Figure S, in which case, when the button l5 and associated parts are employed, thc device will be both auto- "iatirziilv and manually controlled in so it'ar vine' the switch nieinber or return- A nrts to normal positions. ln Fig. o i. sliou' i switch ineinber consistingoi the arins 5l and and have omitted the inno-- nal control. ln this case the switch inenil'ier will 'rtf eutmnatically, being; controlled by the inoienients oli the erin Olnf'ioijisly `with this construction it only one circuity s to be coi'itrelied, contact ineinber .i8 may bc omitted. or il proriifled, i'iecd not be cleo ricalll'y' coni'iectml 'to a circuit. lilith all ot lic ci nstructious prefer to provide a glass lite 5l or (he equii'alent to encloser the iechanisin and this may be maintained in lice by the ollar or flange ineinber It will be obvious 'from the preceding;4 description that the arin il!) may be arranged on tli sha'lt i3 or so adjusted as to causeithe .srfil'cl'i ineniber to be autoinul'ically operated at any desired pressure. *itl may also be mentioned that nliiic i hure specil'ieifl und referred to pressure, the roeul 5 n'fjiuld li the suine in a Vnruuni tranne in which the saine is so ronslriuited thzzt the poiiter will vacuum. tipon rotatif'u'i ol the this` arui Il.) would operate in exactly7 saine inunncr. (onsefpienlly in the he g the claims'. where for convenience i use the terms pressure actuated or fluid controlled chanism as a control for the gauge mechai sin. or its condition indicated by the gauge. l Wish to be understood as including' n, wie; uui. grange construc'ion :is Well. `While. as belore mentioned. the device inav be used in connection 'wi th any apparatus and anyv style of innige. or grunge et' any desired capacityq the present device herein described has been Itouud by test to he particularly desirable for lfi use in connection with automatic refrigerating systems. `IVhle I have shown two circuits lcontrolledby the device, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the same may control one, two or more without materially changing the construction in any way.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modiiications may be made .in the same without departing from the spirit kof my invention., hence I do not wish to be understood as lim-V iting myself to the exact construction, arrangement, coi'nbination of parts or uses mentioned. i

lhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the kind described'and in combination, a casing, indicating mechanism arranged therein andincluding a movable shaft,`a bodily movable switch member arrangedin the casing, contact `members arranged in the casing, said` switch ymember arranged tol engage said contact members and means arranged on said shaft and movable therewith for-controlling said switch member to substantially instantaneously disengage from one of said contact members and engage with the othery ot said contact members.

2. In a device ot the kind described and in combination, a casing, a rotatable actuating shaft, contact members provided with means :tor securing conductors thereto, a bodily movable switch memberand means for securing a conductor thereto, yieldable means independent of the switch member for maintainingthe same in operative contact lwith said contact members and means on said shaft for actuating said switch member in a predetermined manner to alternately break the contact at one of said contact members and make it substantially instantaneously Yat the other. f

3. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a casing, a rotatable actuating shaft, a contact member provided with means for securing a conductorv thereto, a bodily movable switch member and means ttor securing a conductor thereto, yieldable m-ans independentof the switch member for maintaining the same in operative contact with said contact member and means on said shaft t'or actuating said switch member i n. a predetermined manner to break the contact at said contact member, and means for manually controlling said switch member in a predetermined manner.

4. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a casing, a rotatable actuating shaft, a contact member provided with .means for securing a conductor thereto, a. bodily movable switch member and means for securing a conductor thereto, yieldable means independent ot the switch member for maintaining the same in operative contact with said contact member, means adjustably mounted on said shaft for actuating said switch member in a predetermined manner to break the contact at said contact mei'i'ibjer, and means operable trom the exterior of the casing tor manually controlling said .switch Vmember in a predetermined manner.

5. In a device of' the hind described and in combination, a casing, a rotatable actuating shaft, a plurality of contacts arranged in said casing, a bodily movable switch member arranged to cooperate with said contacts,

means on said shaft for actuating said switch member, supplemental means for actuating said switch member after an initial movement thereof, andmeans for retrieving said switch member as desired.

6. In a. gauge of the kind described and in combination, a casing, indicating mechanism arranged therein, including a. movable part operatively connected with the indicating mechanism, a plurality of contacts arranged in said casing on one side of said movable member, aI switch member pivotally supported ,tor movement bodily within the casing on the opposite side of said member and having arms extending at each side thereof arranged to cooperate with either one ot said contact members, means for connecting conductors to said contact members and said switch member, said switch member arranged in the path of said movable member'to be moved thereby, and supplemental means for normally maintaining said switch member in contact with one or the other of said contacts and imparting a snap movement to the switch member aiter an initial movement thereof when actuated by said movable member.

y7. In a gauge of the kind described and in combination, a casing, indicating mechanism larranged therein, including an adjustable movable part operatively' connected with the indicating mechanism, a plurality ott contacts arranged in said casing on one side otsaid movable member, a switch member pivot-ally supportedwithin the casing on the opposite side of said member and having arms extending at each side thereof arranged to cooperate with either one of said contact members, said switch member arranged ,in the path ot said movable member whereby the same will be actuated automatically after a predetermined movement oit said movable member, and means for normally maintaining said switch member in contact with one or the other of said contacts, andinanually operable means for controlling said switch member independently ot said movable member.

8. In a gauge ofl the kind described and in combination, a casing, indicating mechanism arranged therein, including an adjustable movable part operatively connected with 

